Is It Goodbye To Tradition?

Less than a third of us will have a Christmas stocking this year. Woman investigates why so many people, both young and old, are boycotting all the festive fun

- Martha Alexander

From writing Christmas cards by hand to making gingerbread houses and hanging individual stockings over the fireplace, we all have festive traditions.

But according to a study conducted by British Corner Shop, more than half of the 2,000 Brits surveyed believe old traditions are fading. Less than a fifth would leave a mince pie out for Father Christmas, while 25% don’t tuck into a traditional Christmas dinner on the big day. Only 7% would take part in carol singing – and as for drinking, under a quarter of us enjoy mulled wine and only 5% drink eggnog. Surely some traditions will never fade, such as setting fire to the Christmas pudding, or hiding a coin inthe cake? Well, according to research, only 12% will set their pudding alight this year and just 7% plan to hide a coin!

Time restraints as well as financial pressure are said to be some of the reasons why traditions are slipping, as well as a fear of not wanting to seem ‘old fashioned’. Age also plays a key factor in the results – 18 to 24-year-olds are the most likely to prioritise putting up a tree, watching a Christmas film, and tucking into an advent calendar, while the over-50s prefer to ring in the day with mince pies, hanging a wreath on the front door and going for a walk. But are fading Christmas traditions a sign of modern times or could we actually be losing our festive spirit? Woman investigates…

‘NOW I’M A PARENT, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE!’